Finding aid encoded by Lyda Morehouse December 13, 2002.Finding aid written inEnglishJanuary 2012Digital surrogates of reserve material added by Christopher G. Welter.August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel
Sher, and Joyce Chapman.
OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical SocietyNininger, Alexander Ramsey,
1844-1918.Alexander Ramsey Nininger
papers.1852,
1859-1897.Correspondence, military papers, and miscellany documenting
Nininger's education at the Churchill Military Academy in Sing Sing, New York
(1859-1861); his Civil War service in the 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers (1862-1863)
and as provost marshall's and adjutant general's assistant in Minnesota (1863-1864)
and in the South (1864-1866); various post-war military assignments (1867-1870); and
miscellany from his civilian life (1872-1897), including public service appointments
in Minnesota and Alabama. The collection includes a number of letters from his
uncle, Alexander Ramsey.0.25 cubic feet (1 box; 1 item in
reserve). See Detailed Description for shelf
locations.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Alexander Ramsey Nininger was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on August 2, 1864,
the son of John and Catherine Ramsey Nininger and the nephew of Minnesota governor
Alexander Ramsey. The family moved to Minnesota Territory in 1855, but Alexander was
educated in Pennsylvania, at the Mount Joy Academy in Lancaster County, and at the
Churchill Military Academy, where he served as the academy adjunct.

Nininger apparently fled from the academy in November 1861 to join the army and fight
in the Civil War. He was mustered as a second lieutenant into the 84th Regiment of
Pennsylvania Volunteers in March 1862 and was discharged in January 1863 with a
medical disability. Afterward, Nininger served as a clerk and inspector in the
Mankato (Minnesota) provost marshall general's office (1863-1864) and as an
assistant adjutant general in the U.S. Volunteers (1864-1866), serving in Tennessee
and Alabama and mustering out with a brevet rank of lieutenant colonel.

Nininger was commissioned as a captain in the 28th U.S. Infantry in March 1867,
serving in Kentucky and Arkansas during the early Reconstruction years. He was
honorably discharged in October 1870 and returned to Minnesota, where he apparently
pursued a business career. He also served as a U.S. Marshall for the northern
district of Alabama during the early 1890s. Nininger died in 1918.

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Correspondence, military papers, and miscellany documenting Nininger's education at
the Churchill Military Academy in Sing Sing, New York (1859-1861); his Civil War
service in the 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers (1862-1863) and as provost marshall's
and adjutant general's assistant in Minnesota (1863-1864) and in the South
(1864-1866); various post-war military assignments (1867-1870); and miscellany from
his civilian life (1872-1897), including public service appointments in Minnesota
and Alabama. The collection includes a number of letters from his uncle, Alexander
Ramsey.

Nininger's papers consist mainly of correspondence and military orders, passes,
transport papers, and reports dealing primarily with his years at the Churchill
Military Academy in Sing Sing, New York (1856-1861) and in service with the United
States military (1862-1870). Originally housed in two scrapbooks complied by
Nininger, the collection was removed from the volumes in January 1984 due to their
rapidly deteriorating condition. Although Nininger had maintained no discernible
order within the volumes, the dismantled materials were found to form a
chronological set and were organized accordingly.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the
catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials
about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using
these headings.

Digitization of reserve material was made possible by the Arts and Cultural
Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.

Catalog ID number: 001732613

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
P14421Churchill Military Academy,1859-1861.

Included are Nininger's conduct and merit rolls; his recommendation as a
Junior Sons of America member (August 1860); letters from Nininger to his
mother stating that he had requested Ramsey's aid in securing a Minnesota
militia commission (February 1861), to Ramsey stating that he now felt he
was too young to join the military (June 1861), and from Marlborough
Churchill, headmaster, to Mrs. Nininger, describing Nininger's flight from
school to join the army (Nov.-Dec. 1861); and two essays by Nininger (1861).
A series of orders issued through Nininger as the academy adjutant (Oct.
1860-Oct. 1861), contain directives on such subjects as dormitory rules and
inspection hours, drill companies, gymnasium and dancing lessons, Saturday
evening schedules, village visitation privileges, suspensions and
confinements, gymnasium and dormitory transfers, and study assignments.
There is also a letter from Nininger at Mount Joy Academy, Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, to his mother and sister (June 1852).

Pennsylvania Volunteers,1862-1863.

Nininger was mustered into the 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers in
March 1862 with the rank of second lieutenant. He was discharged on January
17, 1863 under a surgeon's certificate of disability. Along with general
military orders and correspondence, this section contains orders relating
directly to Nininger, including his organization and operation of the
Altoona and Pottsville, Pennsylvania recruiting stations (March-July); his
movement of recruits to Culpepper, Virginia and assignment for duty there
(Aug.); his commission as first lieutenant (September 29); his
hospitalization in Georgetown (November 1); and his readiness to return to
duty (November 12). There are letters from Ramsey stating that he feels
Nininger is too young to join the military (March 3) and that he has talked
to the Secretary of War concerning Nininger's obtaining a regular army
commission (July 30); from John Nininger giving his son permission to join
the army (March 4); and from Colonel S. M. Bowman, Warrenton, Virginia
concerning Nininger's resignation (November 13, January 11, 1863).

Provost Marshall General's Office, State of Minnesota,1863-1864.

Includes letters from Ramsey concerning his efforts to obtain a military
position for Nininger (February 19, April 8); Nininger's assignments in
Mankato as clerk (March 20) and inspector (August 15) under Captain T. M.
Saunders, 3rd Artillery, Acting Provost Marshall General; and a letter from
Ramsey to Nininger (February 3, 1864) explaining that Nininger was
considered too young to replace Saunders, who had died in January.

U. S. War Department, Adjutant General's Office,1864-1866.

Nininger was commissioned as assistant adjutant general in the U.S.
Volunteers on June 7, 1864 and was honorably discharged on September 1,
1866. During that time he rose from the rank of captain to brevet lieutenant
colonel.

This section contains numerous general orders and reports, plus some notices
of officers' meetings and court martial proceedings. Those that pertain
directly to Nininger are his appointment as assistant to the provost
marshall of Philadelphia (Feb.-April 1865); assignments to the Military
Division of the Mississippi in Edgefield, Tennessee (April-June 1865) and
the Department of Alabama in Mobile (July 1865); appointment as acting
aide-de-camp to General Charles R. Woods, Department of Alabama commander
(August 1865); relief from duty in Alabama (November 1865); reassignment to
General Woods, then commander of the Department of the South in Mobile
(March 1866) and the department's move to Macon, Georgia (June 1866); a
second relief from duty (August 1866); his September 1, 1866 muster-out; and
subsequent commissions as brevet major and brevet lieutenant colonel (Oct.
1866).

The correspondence deals mainly with Ramsey's various efforts as U.S. senator
to obtain promotions or commissions for Nininger. A letter from Nininger to
the Secretary of War recapitulates his military career (August 1866), and
one from General Woods to Nininger expresses his regret over Nininger's
resignation (August 1866).

Nininger appointed "Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers, with the
rank of Captain." Signed by President Abraham Lincoln.

Access Restricted.

Digital version

P14421U.S. Army, 1867-1870.

Commissioned as a captain in the 28th U.S. Infantry on March 28, 1867,
Nininger served until he was honorably discharged on October 1, 1870. His
orders detail his examination for the captaincy (March 1867); assignments to
Newport Barracks, Kentucky and Little Rock, Arkansas (April 1867) and to
command of Company I at Camden, Arkansas (May 1867-April 1869); several
directives to act as an escort (1867) and peacekeeping force, particularly
at a hanging at Camden (February 1868) and a reconstruction election at
Eldorado, Arkansas (March 1868); appearance on the list of infantry officers
rendered supernumerary by consolidation (April 1869); assignment to the
recruiting service in Cincinnati (May 1868-February 1870), to the command of
C Troop, Unassigned Recruits, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania (March-May
1870), and to the cavalry recruiting station at Des Moines, Iowa (May 1870);
and the acceptance of his discharge request (September 1870).

The majority of the correspondence is again from Ramsey concerning his
efforts to secure Nininger's captaincy and further promotions, including
discussions with the Secretary of War William W. Belknap, commanding general
of the U.S. Army William T. Sherman, and President Ulysses S. Grant
(November 1869).

Also contained in this section are a number of ordinances and clothing
reports, and returns and notices of court martial proceedings.

Civilian Life,1872-1897.

Includes Nininger's Ramsey County, Minnesota notary public commission (Nov.
1872) and St. Paul Academy of Natural Sciences membership certificate (Nov.
1875); admission card to the 1881 presidential inaugural reception; his St.
Paul Board of Trade membership certificate (August 1882); correspondence
with Secretary of War Robert Lincoln concerning right-of-way problems at
Fort Snelling (March 1881), with the Chicago Stock Exchange (November 1882),
and with the U.S. Treasury Department about the final settlement of his
military account (July 1884); receipts for Republican National Committee
reserve fund contributions (January 1890); correspondence and clippings
detailing his appointment and service as U.S. Marshal for the northern
district of Alabama (1890, 1893); tickets to the Republican national
convention in Minneapolis (June 1892); and the seventh anniversary program
of the Minnesota Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the
U.S., held in St. Paul (June 1892).